Multiple Northeast Texas Agencies Team to Bust 30 for Drugs

Nine Greenville residents were among 30 arrested this week in a drug trafficking sting spanning multiple counties in Northeast Texas.

A total of 30 were taken into custody, according to a release issued Friday by U.S. Attorney John M. Bales of the Eastern District of Texas.

Several Quinlan, Kaufman and two Lone Oak suspects were also taken into custody following execution of arrest warrants Wednesday and Thursday.

The indictment claims the following defendants knowingly and intentionally conspired “to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and/or 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.”

Those in custody will make, or have made, initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don Bush. According to the release, if convicted of the drug conspiracy charge, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. If convicted on the weapons violations, those defendants face at least 5 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

The combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greenville Police Department, the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Commerce Police Department, the A&M-Commerce Police Department, the Quinlan Police Department, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockwall Police Department, the Wolfe City Police Department, the West Tawakoni Police Department and the Farmersville Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.